A Healthier Future Today: Bundaberg Hospital - Queensland Health

Bundaberg Hospital
AHealthier Future Today
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STAY
Place to lay aweary head
Low-cost accommodation proves ahuge help for out-of-town patients
Bill Spencer from Eidsvold on his fourth stay at Rotary Lodge is also the 100th guest to have
used the home during adifficult medical time.
One major project the Bundaberg Health Services
Foundation has established this year is Rotary
Lodge –alow-cost accommodation option for
patients and their carers.
If rural patients require treatment in Bundaberg
for arange of conditions including cancer,
surgery, maternity, palliative care and paediatric
conditions, there are no subsidised
accommodation options open to them. That
forces them to pay for motel accommodation
and meals if arelative or friend cannot provide a
place to stay.
For many of these treatments, astay of acouple
of weeks is required, which can leave the patient
hundreds or thousands of dollars out of
pocket …sadly,inmany cases, acost that they
simply cannot afford.
With the assistance of local Rotary Clubs,
community groups and businesses, the foundation
opened Rotary Lodge in March and since
then 150 people have made it their home during
often stressful times, foundation chairman Janet
Tallon said.
The lodge offers five bedrooms, shared dining,
lounge kitchen, laundry and bathroom facilities.
Public and private patients using medical services
at either Bundaberg Hospital, the Mater
Misericordiae or Friendly Society Private Hospital
and their escorts are welcome at the lodge.
Patients who are eligible for the patient travel
subsidy scheme (PTSS) accommodation payment
will only pay $10 per person per night.
Those patients or carers who do not receive the
subsidy will be required to pay $40pp.
“This is alarge project being undertaken by the
foundation and it needs ongoing support from
the community to ensurethe doors remain open
for patients and carers in their time of need,” Mrs
Tallon said.
“Unfortunately illness or accidents can happen
to anyone, at any time, and whether they are
cancer sufferers, sick children, newborns, pregnant
mothers or those needing surgery or medical
care, this is an opportunity for people in the
North Burnett and surrounding areas to help
their fellow community members in their time of
need.’’
Afundraising campaign is under way and the
five communities which raise the most will have a
bedroom named in their honour.
The campaign runs until September 20, 2012.
“We are very grateful to the many individuals
and community groups who fundraised for the
2011 Naming Rites Challenge because, without
their support, Rotary Lodge could not continue,”
Mrs Tallon said.
For further information on the challenge, to register
afundraising event for the lodge, make a
donation or to book aroom, please phone the
foundation on 4150 2863.
‘‘ This is alarge project being undertaken by the
Foundation and it needs ongoing support from the
community to ensure the doors remain open for
patients and carers in their time of need
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